NEW YORK -- Six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens could say goodbye to the New York Yankees, and former National League MVP Jeff Kent could say so long to San Francisco.

Cubs want Lieber, but Yanks don't want Stanton

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that sources are saying the Chicago Cubs will not offer arbitration to right-handed pitcher Jon Lieber. That leaves the only way for Lieber to stay with the Cubs is if he and the team reach a contract deal by midnight ET Saturday. "We think the world of Jon and hope we can keep him," general manager Jim Hendry said. "We'll do what we think is right to try to keep him here." Lieber is not expected to be ready to pitch until late next season after having reconstructive elbow surgery in August. Lieber went a career-best 20-6 with a 3.80 ERA in 2001. He went 6-8 last season with a 3.70 ERA before having surgery. "We don't have a deal done but we'll keep trying," said Lieber's agent, Rex Gary. Meanwhile, the Yankees have told reliever Mike Stanton he will not be offered salary arbitration after the left-hander turned down a two-year offer from the team. That means Stanton will become a free agent. The Yankees will likely sign either Chris Hammond or Mark Guthrie -- if they are not offered salary arbitration -- to replace Stanton in the bullpen. -- ESPN.com news services

More than 140 players, including four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux and 10-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, faced a Saturday midnight ET deadline for their former teams to either re-sign them or offer salary arbitration.

Those offered arbitration have until Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and can re-sign through Jan. 8. Free agents not offered arbitration can't re-sign with their old teams until May 1.

As the deadline approached, several free agents returned to their old teams. First baseman John Olerud got a $15.4 million, two-year deal with Seattle.

Right-hander Jimmy Haynes, who rebounded from a losing season with Milwaukee to go 15-10 for Cincinnati this year, agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract the Reds.

Meanwhile, right-hander Darren Holmes agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract with Atlanta and right-hander Rudy Seanez agreed to a minor league contract with Texas that will pay him $750,000 if he's added to the major league roster.

Left-hander Jeff Fassero agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last month, the Cardinals declined a $2.5 million option on Fassero and he filed for free agency. Fassero went 8-6 with a 5.35 ERA in 69 innings last season.

Outfielder Brady Anderson agreed to a minor league contract with San Diego.

"I think it's great," said Anderson, who's spent his entire career in the American League, with Boston, Baltimore and Cleveland. "Guys have said that once you play in San Diego, you don't want to leave."

The 38-year-old outfielder, who hit 50 home runs for Baltimore in 1996, was released by the Cleveland Indians on May 21 after starting the season batting just .163.

"I got off to a rough start, and right after that the team went into a rebuilding phase," Anderson said.

In addition, infielder Abraham Nunez avoided arbitration when he agreed to a $675,000, one-year contract with Pittsburgh.

Frank Thomas, who became a conditional free agent after the White Sox invoked a clause that would have deferred most of his salary, worked out a new deal with Chicago. The two-time MVP got a one-year contract with three mutual options.

A day after losing two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine, who agreed to a $35 million, three-year contract with the New York Mets, Atlanta wouldn't say whether it would offer arbitration to Maddux.

''We're still contemplating that,'' general manager John Schuerholz said.

Rodriguez seemed likely to cut his ties with Texas after the Rangers acquired catcher Einar Diaz and right-hander Ryan Drese from the Cleveland Indians on Friday for first baseman Travis Hafner and right-hander Aaron Myette.

The Yankees, who have held staff meetings all week in Tampa, Fla., weren't saying whether they would offer arbitration to Clemens, coming off a $30.9 million, two-year contract. New York relievers Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza also were facing the deadline.

The Yankees were set to be talking with Chris Hammond as a possible replacement for Stanton in the bullpen.

Across town, the Mets didn't indicate whether they would offer arbitration to third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo. Kent, who hasn't spoken much with San Francisco, seemed unlikely to be offered arbitration by the NL champions.